Glass rack



Patented May 23, 1 939 PATE NT OFFICE GLASSVRACK William Owen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor m Pittsf burghPlate Glass Company, Allegheny County,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application OctoberZZ, 1937, Serial No. 170,423

6 Claims. .The present invention relates to glass handling apparatus and more particularly to a rack for supporting glass sheets or plates.

One object of my invention is to provide a rack which may be more easily loaded and uniuloadedwhile in a horizontal position and which may be brought .into a closed position similar it to the standard "A framewhen it is desired to hill store the racks for any period of .time.

(.This, andotherpbjects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a rack constructed in accordance with my invenit tion. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a rack members 4, secured in spaced relation by means of transverse bars 6 and diagonal braces T interconnecting opposite corners of the frames. An

angle iron 8 also extends transversely of each frame at the lower edge thereof with ledges 9 projecting outwardly, the ledges 9 being braced Iii by plates l secured to the members 4 in abutting relation. The bar 6, members 8, and ledges 9 may be surfaced with a protective covering, such as felt, to prevent scratching of glass plates ll placed thereon. A retaining member I2, substantially of U-shape, extends transversely of each frame in the upper portion thereof and is releasably secured at its extremities by means of pins I3, engaging the side members 4 of the frames. Each pair of the upright members 4 of the frames carries a caster l5, the pintle I6 of which is mounted in a block I! secured between the members of each pair of uprights. The caster wheels are of a size suflicient and so positioned that they will project beyond the rear faces of the frames, to support the edges" of the frames when the latter are in horizontal position, thus permitting free movement of the rack at all times.

Shafts 20 extend through the upper ends of the vertical members 4 and carry rollers 2i, which further support the rack when in horizontal position. The shafts 20 of the two frames are connected by links 23 secured to a hanger 24. A hook 25 of a crane or chain hoist (not shown) may be secured under the hanger 24 to lift the rack into upright or closed position. Tie bars 30, pivotally secured to the side elements 4 of one frame at 3|, engage pins 32 projecting from the side elements 4 of the second frame to lock the frames together after they have been raised. Safety locks 34 prevent accidental displacement of the tie bars 30.

The casters l may be replaced'by ordinary rollers, as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the vertical members 4 of the two frames are roundedv at their lower ends to permit the addition therein of bearings 35 for shafts 36 which carry rollers 31. The vertical members 4 also carry curved extensions 38 which underlie and insure a more positive support for the ledges 9.

Manifestly the rack herein described may be used while in closed position although it is not particularly designed for such application. Preferably an empty rack, in open position, wherein the frames 2 and 3 are in horizontal, abutting relation, is brought into proper location for loading, for example, adjacent a grinding and polishing apparatus or at the discharge end of a leer, the casters l5 and rolls 2! faciliating the movement of the rack. The retaining members I2 are removed from the frames, and as the glass plates emerge from the leer or are finished, they are stacked upon the frames, with one edge resting against the supporting ledge 9. This loading of the frames may be accomplished by means of the ordinary vacuum transfer mechanism, well known to the art, or by any other suitable means. When the rack has received the proper number of sheets or plates of glass, the retaining members !2 are replaced on the frames to prevent accidental dislodgement of the glass during trans portation. The hook 25 is brought into engagement with the hanger 24 and the rack is lifted centrally into closed position, the frames 2 and 3 assuming an inclined, downwardly diverging relation. The tie bars 30 are then fastened and locked to secure the frames in such position. The casters l5 project sufficiently to the rear of the frames to admit of this lifting action with a minimum of frictional vibration and at the same time serve as rollers, permitting the closed rack to be moved easily to other locations in the factory. The rack may be unloaded while in the closed position, or if desired, be opened prior to unloading.

The glass rack, as contemplated by my invention, reduces to a minimum the breakage incident to the handling of large plates of glass. The major portion of such handling is accomplished mechanically and by providing for loading and unloading the sheets or plates of glass from a rack in a flat horizontal position, simplified transfer apparatus may be used. At the same time, because the rack may be brought into a closed position, it may be used for storing the excess glass production in the same space normally occupied by a standard A frame.

Although the device of my invention is simple in construction it is obvious that modifications may be made therein to embody the principles of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A rack for supporting a plurality of glass plates comprising two frame members pivotally connected at one end to permit joint movement of the frame members from a horizontal, abutting position to an inclined, downwardly diverging position releasable locking means for positively securing the members in inclined position and means for retaining plates of glass upon the members when they are inclined.

2. A rack for supporting a plurality of glass plates comprising two frame members pivotally connected at opposite ends of link elements to permit joint movement of the frame members from a horizontal, abutting position to an inclined position in which the frame membersdiverge from a central axis as marked by the link elements, means for locking the frame members together in their inclined position and means for retaining the plates in position when the members are inclined.

3. A rack for supporting a plurality of glass plates comprising two frame members pivotally connected at opposite ends of link elements, ledges projecting from the frame members adapted to receive the edges of the glass plates, retaining members substantially of U-shape releasably secured to the frame members over the glass plates, rollers positioned. at the ends of the frame members to facilitate movement thereof, and means for locking the frame members together in the inclined position to which they may be moved from a horizontal abutting relation.

4. A rack construction as defined in claim 3 in which the link elements are secured in spaced relation to a hanger by means of which the rack may be lifted centrally.

5. A rack construction as defined in claim 3 in which the rollers positioned at the ends of the frames are of a size sufiicient to extend beyond the backs of the frame members.

6. A rack construction as defined in claim 3 in which the rollers positioned at the outer ends of the frames are designed, to swivel about a vertical axis when the frames are in their inclined position.

, WILLIAM OWEN. 

